Billfold or pocket case



31, 1943- L.- e. STANLEY I 2,328,400

BILLFOLD 0R POCKET CASE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 3 She ets-Sheet 2 CXEX I x lg l gig r gd W KW jW ATTORNEYS 8 3- L. G. STANLEY I 2,328,400

BILLFOLD OR POCKET CASE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORI:

d the elaee whlich hjas a ppehet of' kets-td cagry paper money or the likef; ls :eornpueed etlealther or anglogotls-lim-p materlll-{md preferably clbses by wlly accessory pockets fdr cdm'ylhg; otheg owing lat: Emile- 333112 therewflzlmcwthexserfitet and: mmnolzfihe accidentally unnamed when inng; 4 13 a meevlewiag mmodificatmn of the a m emeafiener lihe eomponenft E ofngueand Elsa-9 shows' 'the a's'semblag'e'flfor Combination of 4 Figs. 16, lTa-nd 1a are'views'cofrespondlh geri- 10' bf components ierleather er thellke builfiup or erally'twith Figs.- 13; l5and 4* respectively, [showpekeeleature Fig.1 being 'a section view taken z1 belng azseetionail vlew taken on the line! |-2'l orm'g. 20; w l r illustrated forms, but in closed conditioxm and partly :bmkenaway to'shovw a small pertion 'of'the Ammiietfobject: is; $0 some the. structural and secret ookah. features nubperat lmytmwthe same use or-bflltoldl; v Fmwther azlvantagmmmhe bum-1 mu hereom williiapmrmwthe hereinaim, tollewq in; description. at; LW] embndh l m mmmempemnevdimsr meg-l m 11 M ur; successive compo nents A to G of a, complete embodimentzof theim mention, :the components .helng elmwn :befch (sepa- Elg. is apiece; view the bobmmmr wzten layem o! mpemm o: [mam illustrative embodimen q; Ind; 21 andthe'moeedmg,;1=igvsa 31m l l mzi elnsi've-,,- ghewinmhhe other: eempenenta respece in tlheim-a ssemblmg: :7 into 'eomplete which, ,ljs shay in; labeling 1 lace view in V Fla. -ll3 0n,-a llargem scalelthm m; 12 h t m flm bl fiwnshzue edrina c rdancew h mmam-5mw mw ma ot .wemblyi mhus pmmen t, and the! other cemponen'ts correspondlnglygathertdp or last layermbein Ggwhigh is in twoh'separate butsymmetrlcal pieces. 1

P Referring firstto'Fige'l tolB-the complete hodimenfb may best beiexplalned'by' first describlug; the successive ,layersfllthelr relation :and' the progressive assembling thereof; The back or outer first; componentmr-layler'A is shown inFig. 1 :as: a simple oblong-composed; preferably of leather. and, Ofil size =suflieiently klargergthan a meney bill what th'elpoekets; to be formed will ac:

eommodatel thewla tter. Thewcomponent A -is shown ashaving; attached to onezside edge a short str'lpqw to brldge across, the gap in layer C-aswill be descrlbed although this brldggls dispensed with-ii the modification 051mg. 4%, 8X and 9 be buikefl away tel lllllgtneee -mqme1 v clearly the "in terlol." strlmtune and relatlemof Wherpan'csQw Fig: 14 -15, a perspective view of; the: same bfllfold; vbin; showing it; with the pans; manipulated ltovexpose the sncmhmcket mm the'bill'szconhamedtherelm followednum m 'I'he-layeniB ls shown in Flg. 2,-this being a necessary element for the :secreflpocket; formed by the speeebebween -layers A and B. W "LayerB is slightly smaller; than layer ,Awin both directions and? may: be composed: of edoubledplece of silk materialwlth interposed stitfeners b-b extendenclslnearly' to themiddle The layer Bumay- .be leidmponthe layer A,- as shown in lFig.

3, with the strip a on top, and secured temporarily until later permanently secured by a seam or seams.

The third layer C is shown separately in Fig. 4,

, and in Fig. assembled upon the combined layers A and B. To facilitate opening the secret pocket the strip 0 has a central depending tab c reaching into the central recess c. By the recess and may be accommodated in certain pockets, with the slits therefore the layer C is divided intothe is slightly shorter than the combined length of the slits c and is of width slightly greater than layer B but smaller than layers A and C; and c it is preferably formedwith a central cutaway area at of substantial size at its lower'edge. In assembling component D with components A, B and C, as seen in Fig. 7, component D-is placed to extend throughthe slits c',-with its-lower part behind the symmetrical flaps c andiits M upper edge partly overlying the strip 0 .Layer D'therefore lies partly below and partly above layer C. I

LayerE is shown in'Fig. 8=and it may be a simple oblong piece of leather, preferably somewhat shorter than layer D, as well as somewhat narrower. This fifth layer isassembled upon layer D, beneath the symmetrical flaps c but with its'upper edge in alinement with the upper edges of said flaps, as shown in Fig. 9. The lower edge of layer E may'overlap the short strip a, so that layer D is now entirely concealed except for its narrow upper margin which overlies layer C beyond the slits 0. Layer E is to be stitched to the upper edges of the two flaps 0 thus becoming in effect apart of layer C. The flaps are left'unsewed at their upright edges so that they form symmetrical pockets openingcentrally of the billfold, while a long bill pocket is'provided behind thelayer E, between it and thelayer B, the layer D servingas a separator, splitting the long pocket into two pockets.

The next or sixth layer consists ofasymmetrical pair of leather pieces F-F,jwhichmay be'stitche'd upon the respective flaps e c, to form supplemental or ove'rlying 'pocketsfconvenient for various small articles. Insteadof each portion F being of oblong form it is pref erably' truncated at its upper inner portion, with a sweeping curved line, as shown, such as to overlie and conceal the ends of the slits of layer C.'- As a final layer a second such pair of, supplemental portions G- -G may be applied on top of portions F F, but with a more abridged outline, so that the portions FF will remain in sight and there will beat eachside ofthe billfold a supplemental pocket both below layer F and be-' tween layers F and G. 'These later components may-'next'be stitched together, or itJmay be more convenient to stitch layers F and G on top of layer C, at each side, before layer C is combined With and stitched to layer A.

The entirety thus described, built from the seven successive components A to G, is shown in small scale in Fig. 12, where some part of every component appears with the exception of layer B. The same article is shown on a larger scale in Fig. '13, broken away to illustrate the various pockets that are. formed, while Fig. 14 shows the open billfold in perspective,Imanipulated to expose the secret pocket and its contents; Fig. 15 being an explanatory cross section view on the line |5--l5 of Fig. 13, while Fig. 22 indicates the character of the billfold when closed.

Figs. 13 and 14 show how bills J of large denomination and bills K of small denomination three additional pockets at each inner side of the case. Thus the large bills are shown accommodated. in the secret: pocket L, which lies behind the layer B, betwen it and-layer A,1the entrance being'totally concealed by the strip 0?, but beingreadily; accessible by. pulling out on'the tab 0 as shown in Fig.:1l; Next, the 'mainbill pocket is divided by, the layer D into anouter pocket section M and an inner section N, lying behindthe layers orxwalls Dand E: respectively; The opposite interior flap pockets '0 lie behind the respective flaps 0 each pocket opening inwardly toward the axis or fold'of'the' case. "superposed thereonare the supplemental pockets P'behind thelayers F and pocketsQ behind the layers G. Thereby .nine 1 distinct pockets are afforded by seven layers of material; Themodificationindicated in Figs. 4 ,.8, and 9 is in respect to the layersC and E; these fig-i ures showing themodified'forms as contrasted with the disclosures in Figs. 4, 8 and 9. The third layer C is similar to laye'rJC, excepting that across the lower edge is left anarrow strip or bridge 0 connecting the flaps c at this point, thus preserving the oblong outline of the'entire piece and facilitating handling. Thebridge .c extendsupwardlya substantial distance, but its upper part is separated from the side flaps by slits c 'to accommodate the layer. E which is -outer layer A upon which is assembled and shown' separately in Fig. 8 The" layer E has a cutaway notch e to accommodate the bridge strip 0 The elements 0* and E are shown assembled with elements A and D in Figi 98, where the bridge piece 0 is seen to cover the space which otherwise would be covered by the stripe, which latter may then be omitted from layer A'ofjFigl. F

i The modification shown'in'Figs. 16 to 18cm." bodies the secret pocket feature of theprevious figures, but in modified form and without the special third layer or component C as shown in Figs. 4 and 4 The modification" is built up or a smaller number of pieces, commencing with an stitched a slightly'narrower layer B The layer A hasa centra'l'edge strip a, corresponding to the strip a of Fig. 1. The secret pocket is accommodated between the layers or walls A and B as shown by" the presence of the billsJ therein in Fig. 16. Access'to this pocket is obtainable along the top edge of the layer B but the en-, trance is "wholly concealed by a third layer C which in this form is a mere narrow strip, shown separatelyin Fig. 18, stitched to the outer layer A and wide enough to overlie the edge of the layer 13 The layer or strip G has an extension or tab 0 by which the strip 'may' be swung out wmveemeas :toathe simflsrlmtoztheiopz;

nation: indicated 4mm. 14:5. maizrzcbm lsi'formed between 301M131 amt-e:

o superposewleyew'fl wmeh' 12i tmsai mbodmant mot-thorium leneth omlw cese mu -ia sutemd ammo theenosindrtne summons Ir Med wseperetor eouldibe' unmet-m1 betwem Jews mymtmi omnecmmter contempt-sateen in: the: onbodiment describedz' memento nimide; interior a a there are next show amoppdsite patir of wls HIT etitefied around aniwider *tharmthe: money or bills to be eccommodated-,:rw1thr-ai seeond oblong layer, :as

Ere-positionedcuponubuttnarrowerthan the first mu ot-fthe ease;

struetumwmraetmocsovng 1 to 15' and ngsirlsjitotm, butwwrthout seeret pocket-flthe seeonditayer or wan B -b mg amlttedmnd the ammo 1mm; thinner: anmeswxpmzvetomar:- mums. 'me outer layeror wall A may have 'an: exposed bottom edge finishing strip a as 'in 1 and 16; Upon-layer Al isaleyerfi 'slit'fi'ed at" to formthetop edge stflpe covering ttho q otherwise exposed top margin of the-nrst 1ayerA t smmemcal pockets. Extending through the m l-met 19' to za' tm mnromhwmonth's to overlapping thetop strip cfleno concealing' its j Iooreredgau This layer or partition D separates' tlw-zrnamzpocket into two-poekets=both opening dampening: toward the eenterline or hinge R Supplemental pooket wells now-"G similarto mama layers shown19 1 553101014 Thus maths-worm or figstm tofll ateprovidedo snoomoem bill' ipoeket "andft reepairsqofj interior pockets; 1 I t l I Fig: 22 on ansmallscaleshows-"any" one ofthe' 'mqribed'bfllfoMs-"in it's closedfposition, with the hmsmRrat the left; some cornerofth'e first-or outer layer or wall A being broken away at the upwardly} Upoothe divider-waiterJayerDHs V allinterposed IQyerEF'httachedfbeneath'theside A flips clwhieh iie upon it and for m interior pocklayersnand r therewith forming the secret pocket .wmbh is. openableat the long. upper edgeot the ther-nmrgmal band; and or a'width to overlap and moeal' the lowerecigeof the band. In Figs. 1 to however the merginalband c is in onepiece with: an oblong body 0 c, the two separetedby the slit rtrhiilids olyshorfr-length, while spenoose; c which, with an undewlying layer-E form apair of inside pockets f fa cing each other and in this tdrmit is preferable'to' empioy' the divider wen which not merely-partitions the main pocket into two pockets, but by extending mmugh the slite' overhesand conceals the lower-edge of the 'margirratbond portion c" "of'the' I-aYEX' CJ r In certain-aspects there are features-"o4 noveb ty he'ratft dislosed; 'theutili'ty of which is not necessarily limfted to a biI lfdld or pocketcasethat .doubies endwisegend might beapplied to a pooket bill-ease to receive billsj which always" re In such a; pocket to bmcase maybe embodied the principle of com to show-parts ofthe' interior layers D; F

and G.

It willffbetnoticewtha t' in all embodtmentstthe are we constructed,- simple and yet mongytmshemgoueiu parttof the provision on we wear 0; o 0 or? C4; and especially the t upper edge band or marginalstriothereof ic i'or.

o; which; in each embodiment, ts-visiblewhen the hillfold 11sflaltryopenedgandstands upwardly beyond: all'ol the otherf layersj and walls with me exceptiom of the" first or outer wall A. The upper corner stitching "extends". around the rounded" corners" to connect suchmorgin'al band or strip with the outerweflt theremjaining walls being independently connected at. points lower down; The -extrerhecor11ers therefore are wholly unbroken by any extensions 7 or tabs from other" walls reaching to such corners, as has beenheretofore practiced: At the corner of the djseloeed bilIfoId the stitching which connects outerfllayer' orrwafl to the layerwhioh com: prises the marginal banddsan uninterrupted stitching extending aiohgonwsldeedge; thence around the t corner and along" the," contiguous" end edge;

In respectato the secret pocket feature" the in vemiom: mayv be reviewed as eomprismg the fullsheommrgxouter orrflrst layer; atom-substantially bmmgtrthe Iongrandwioe outer layer A with the s perimposed layer C thatis'slitted'f lengthwise j to-"set omthemar mar band e which Iines the inner upper margin of the outer layer while leavingsthe bodylo'r the -layer C with its upper edge short of fithe upperedgeof the outerlayer, and the shtwxtendihgowarly'tothe 'extremeends so thataa :metn om pocket is formed between the wten'andzsfipenmposed layer which is accessible bys merelyr defleetmg theuppefr free edge of the buoys misconception convertible into a case secret pocket: the provid'ing ofthe 1ntet'nwoiatemyer B oetween theother two-layers hlstrwmi its upper beneath and oovered. by

, mermatbaodaecess" is iven to the 'seeretpocket.

Akwtms stmeture forms the-basis of the struetmeshown iii-Fig.- 20wherefrianother layer or owner-wen ms arr'engedtoproject through the" snt'renmcover the 'loweredge of the marginal 15mm; tmwto divide the 1 main pocket intotwov odometer have thusbeen describedrepresentative movements of the present invention, and the several: ieeltu res thereof'; *but since many matters otemnbmatwn, construction; arrangement and" gleam-mew be variously-modifier? without deer arting-from the novel: principles, it ls n ot 1nterrde'd tofimit the invention to such matters. ex'-. cepttjo the extent" set forth int-theappended Wh'atisolaimed is: f L t 1, 3A? b'illfold" of'leatliei Or Fkematerial or the! elongztt'ed' oblon shape when ned .fiot bot" beiiig foldame about hinge to close" ffland being built up "of component layers or walls, including a full-size oblong outer or firstilayer substantially longer and wider, than themoney or bills to be accommodated, second oblong layer positioned upon but narrower than l-thewfirst layer and forming therewith a secret pocket .openable' at the long upper edge of the billfold, a thirdlayer comprising an upper marginal band and a symmetrical pair of flaps separated from the band by a longitudinal slit andjfro'm each other by a middle gap, said band having ,itsfupper edge attached along the upper edge oftlze first layer and being of width to ex tend downwardly over the free upper edge of the second layer to conceal thesame and protect the secretpocket, an. interposed layer arranged beneath the opposite flaps'of said third layer and upon which said two flaps ar attached to form symmetricalinside pockets, and said'fiaps and attached interposed layer together forming with said second layer a mainbill pocket open at the s long upper edge of the billiold. r

2. A billfold of leather or like material of the kind having an elongated oblong shape when opened fiat but beingffoldable about a hinge to close it and being built up of component layers or walls, including a full-size oblong outer or first middle gap in the body, said band having its up per edge attached along the upper edge of the first layer and being of width to extend down wardly over the free upper edge of the second layer to conceal the same and protect the secret pocket, an interposed layer arranged beneath the body of said third layer and upon which said two flaps are attached to form symmetrical inside pockets, and said body flaps and interposed layer forming with saidsecond layer a main bill pocket open at the long upper edge of the billfold.

, 3. A billfoldof leather or like material of the kind having an elongated oblong shape when opened fiat but being foldable endwise about a hinge to close it and being built up of component layers or walls-including a full-size oblong outer or first layer substantially longer and wider than the money or bills to be accommodated; a second oblong layer positioned upon but narrower than the first layer and stitched thereto at its ends with itsupper edge free and forming therewith f a full length secret pocket with its entrance at the long upper edge of the billfold; a third layer comprising an oblong body and an integral upper marginal band formedby a slit between body and band, said third layer andrits marginal band being of the full length of the-billfold and said band having its upper edge attached along the upper edge of the first layer and being of width to extend downwardly over the free upper edge of the second layer to conceal wholly the same and protect the secret pocket, and said body portion of the third layer forming with said second layer an exposed main bill pocket open at the long upper edge of the billfold; and a shortlength inserted wall secured at its lower part between said second layer and said body portion, withits upper part free and extending upwardly behind said body portion and through such slit to overlap the lower edge of such marginal band.

4. A billfold of leather or like material of the aeeenoo kind having an elongated oblongshape when opened flatbut being foldable about a hinge to close it and being built-up of component'layers or walls, including a full-size oblong outer or first 7 pocket openable atthe long upper edge of the billfold, a third layer comprising an oblong body and an upper marginal band formed by a slit between body and band, said band having its upper edge attached along the'upper edge of the first layer and being of width to extend downwardly over the free upper edgeof the secondlayer to conceal the same and protect the secret pocket, and said body forming with said other layers a main bill pocket open at the long upper edge of the billfold; whereby on opening the main pocket-and bending away the protecting marginal band the secret pocket is accessible; and a divider wall arranged-loosely in the main bill pocket; located beneath the body of the third layer but extending through the slit thereof and of width tooverlap and conceal the lower edge of the band thereof. 1

5. A billfold of leather or like material of the kind having an elongated oblong shape when opened fiat but being foldable about a hinge to close it and being built up of component layers or walls, including a full-size oblong outer layer substantially longer and Wider than the money or bills to be accommodated, a superimposed layer slitted lengthwise near its upper edge forming a wall body and a marginal band joined at its ends to its body, said marginal band having its upper edge attached along the upper inner edge of the outer layer, said superimposed wall body forming between it and said outer layer a bill pocket open at the long upper edge of the bill'- ifold, and said wall body being separated into two pocket formingfiaps by a central gap of substantially the full width of the body, and a longitudinal connecting wall beneath'and bridging i such two flaps. and stitched thereto along their upper edges but unstitched at their transverse slitted lengthwise near its upper edge forming a wall body and a marginal band joined at its ends to its body, said marginal band having its upper edge attached along the upper inner edge of the outer layer, said superimposed wall body forming between it and said outer layer a bill pocket open at the long upper edgeof the billfold, and said wall bodyhbeing separated into two pocket forming flaps by a central recess, and a longitudinal connecting wall beneath and'bridging the two flaps, and a divider wall dividing the bill pocket into two compartments, said divider wall arranged beneath the said two fiaps and their connecting wall and projecting upwardly through such slit to overlapsaid marginal band; and said two flaps and connecting wall mutually forming exposed inner pockets.

7. A pocketbillfold of leather or the like having an elongated oblong shape and being built up of component layers, including an oblong outer layer of dimensions both longer and wider than the money bills to be accommodated, with middle hinge about which the billfold is closable, a superimposed oblong layer of similar dimensions to and stitched around the sides and ends of the outer layer and slitted lengthwise near to its upper edge thereby to set off a marginal band visibly liningtheinner upper margin of the outer layer while leaving the body of the superimposed layer with its upper edge somewhat short of the upper edge of the outer layer, the body of the superimposed layer having its upper edge free or open for access to the bill pocket formed between it and the outer layer, and said body being centrally divided to form two symmetrically opposite flaps, with a separate bridge piece attached across underneath the two flaps to form center-facing inner pockets and to close the bill pocket but of such dimension that the said body is somewhat shorter than the band and is thereby smoothly accommodated within the outer layer when closed.

8. A billiold of leather or like material of the kind having an elongated oblong shape when opened fiat but being foldable about a hinge to close it and being built up of component layers or Walls, including a full-size oblong outer layer substantially longer and wider than the money or bills to be accommodated, a superimposed layer slitted lengthwise near its upper edge forming a marginal band joined at its ends to its body, said marginal band having its upper edge attached along the upper inner edge of the outer layer,

said bodybeing centrally recessed to form a gap separating it into two opposite flaps, abridging wall attached beneath said two flaps, therewith to form a pair of inner pockets, said bridging wall and flaps together affording a bill pocket opening upwardly between the same and the outer wall; the marginal band being exposed for a substantial width from extreme upper corner to corner of the billiold and connected to the outer layer by a'seam which extends from the upper side around the corners into the ends.

- LEOPOLD G. STANLEY. 

